Rope-winding device



March 24, 1931. MlTCHELL 1,797,477

ROPE WINDING DEVICE Original Filed Novv l, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (liltomw L. E. MITCHELL 1,797,477

ROPE WINDING DEVICE Oniginal Filed Nov. 1,- 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m WU March 24, 1931.

,ZZ 1 7 .Mfc/izl/ Patented Mar. 24, 1931 U N i T I LEWIS EDWIN MITCHELL, OF COLUIHBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR- TO THE JEFFREY MANUFAC- TURING- COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CJRPORATIQN OF OHIO ROPE-WINDING DEVICE Application filed November 1, 1928, Serial No. 316,537. Renewed August 5, 1930.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rope winding devices, and particularly to devices adapted to wind the feed rope of coal cutting mech anism of the class adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor, and to control the unwinding of said rope.

The especial object of this invention is to provide improved actuating and controlling mechanism for the feeding devices of a mining machine of the class described, which shall be convenient of operation and reliable and durable in service.

ThemeanswherebyIattain these, and other objects, will be fully set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mining machine equipped with the devices of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the feeding and guiding mechanism, certain parts being broken away 1 to reveal parts lying below.

Fig. i is a vertical sectional View taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

Fig. is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line R E- VI of Fig. 3,

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic figures illustrating the operation of the machine.

Like numerals refer to similar the several figures.

In the drawings the numeral 1 refers to the main supporting frame which is adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor. The numeral 2 indicates the rigid horizontally projecting cutter arm in the edges of which are formed guideways wherein travels the cutter chain 3. The cutter chain 3 is provided with cutter bits 4 adapted to engage the coal to cut it. The cutter chain 3 passes around and is actuated by a sprocket wheel 5. The sprocket wheel 5' is mounted concentric with and operatively connected to a bevel gear wheel 6 which is engaged by a bevel pinion 7 mounted upon the driving shaft of the motor 8.: All-of parts in these devices are Well understood in the mining machine art and need no further descrip tion at this time. The motor 8 may be of any preferred type suitable to the condition under which the machine operates. For purposes of illustration I have here shown an electric motor with which is associated a controller 9 having an operating handle 10 convenient to the hand of the operator. At-

tached to the motor 8 is a socket 11 adapted to receive the attachment plug fixed to the end of a flexible conductor cablewhereby connection may be established with a -convenient source of electric current supply. As

such devices are Wellunderstood in the minmg machine art further illustration and description is not thought to be required at this time.

The feeding and guiding mechanism comprises two winding drums 12 and 13 upon which are Windable the feed ropes 14 and 15 adapted to cooperate with suitable abutments external of the machine. The drums 12 and 13 are mounted for free rotation concentric *ith the vertical shafts 16 and 17 which are symmetrically positioned at either side of the longitudinal center line of the machine in a lane extendim er endicular thereto. 1

These shaftsare ournaled in bearings formed in the hubs 18 and 19 of the main frame. Fixed tothe shafts l6 and 17 are the worm gear wheels 20 and 21 both of which engage the worm 22. The worm 22 is formed integral with the worm shaft 23 which is journaled in roller bearings 24 and 25 suitably supported by the main frame of the machine. The worm shaft 23 is connected wlth. the

driving shaft of the motor 8 by a pair of spindles 31 fixed to the spoke of the wheel 32 which is journaled upon the vertical shaft 16. The pinions also engage a gear wheel 38 which is fixed to the shaft 16. Other pinions 34 are fixed to the pinions 30 concentric therewith, and these engage the inwardly projecting gear teeth formed on a ring which is supported by the flange 29 but is freely rotatable relative thereto. Brake bands '36 and 37 are arrangedpto engage the peripheries of the ring 35 and wheel 32 associated with drum 12 to resist their rotation about the axis of the shaft 16 under. CllQQCOlP trol of mechanism to be hereinafter fully described. The arrangement and proportions of these parts is such that when the ring is held against rotation the drum 12 will revolve in a rope winding .direction .at rela tively low speed, and when the wheel 34 is held against rotation the drum 12 will 'revove in the rope winding direction at relatively high speed. When neither the ring 35 nor the wheel 32 is held 'againstrotation the drum 12 will remain idle. It is apparent that apartial tightening of the brake bands 36 01 37 'will permit more or. less slippage between said brake band and its cooperating member thereby.resulting-in variations of speed proportionate to the amount of slippage. Brake bands-38 and 39 are similarly arranged to control the ring .35 and wheel 32 associated With drum 18.

Attached to each of the brake hands 36,. 37, 38 and 39, is a lug 40 which projects be tween the lugs 41 of-the -main frame to anchor the brake band against rotary movement about the axis of itscooperating memher. A pivot pin-42 extending through suitable, apertures in the lugs40 and 41 helpsto support-the weight'ofthebrake bands. Similar, but oppositely disposed-lugs 43, 44, 43 and 44'. are attached to the brake .bands 36 and 37 attheir ends, and these lugs are pierced by apertures through. which project the control shafts-45 and 46, respectively. These control. shafts are journaled in. suitable bearings of the main frame and-cooperate with the pivot pins 42 to prevent vertical displacement vof the brake bands. Positioned between the-lugs 43 andi44, 43" and 44, and encircling their respectivecontrol shafts, are compression springs 48 which bear against abutments 49 ofthe :main frame and tend toexpand the 'brahebands-to. prevent their engagement with-their, respective cooperating members. Fixed to, the shaft 45 is a thrust collar .50 which-engagesthe lug; 43', and a polygonalnut 51 -screw-threaded to the shaft45 and-fitting in a corresponding recess in lug 44'- is adaptedtto be drawn, by

rotation of said shaft, into contact avitlrthe+ lugI 44" to compressthe brake hand; 37 'and: cause its engagement with thewheel-BQ: A s imil a r thrust collar 52 and screw nut-:53 :is

p rt-wid'ed *upon the shaft -46 40 control the brake band 36 and the shafts 45 and 46 are connected together by gears 54 and 55 in such manner that rotation of said shafts will cause equal and opposite movement of the nuts 51 and 53 causing engagement of one brake band and release of the other. To the shaft 46 is fixed a spur gear 56 which engages a similar gear 57 formed integral with the sleeve 57 journaled in a bearing formed in the bracket 58 ofthe main frame: To this sleeve is at-" tached a hand wheel 59 positioned convenient to the hand of the operator. When tl-ie-hand w-heel 59 is rotated in one direction the drum 12 will be caused to revolve in a rope winding direction at a'relatively high speed, and when said. handwheel is rotated in the opposite direct-ion the winding drum 12 will be caused to-revolve ina rope winding.

direction ata relatively low speed. -When saidhand. wheel stands in. its central: or neutralposition, the 'winding. drum. 12v -Wlll remain idle, and a partial movement of said hand wheel will cause a slipping. engagement of one or the other of-thebrake-bands 36 01 37- wherebyrotation of thewind-ing'drum 12in the unwinding direction inay be resisted.

Projecting through the sleeve.57 is a shaft 60 having at one end aahand whee-161 .and at the other end a pinion .62Hwhichsengages a. gear wheel 63 fixed to a control'shaft 47. The shaft'47 projects through the lugs 64 and'65 of the brakeband 39,-and is provided with thrust collar 66 and screw'nut 67 for the control of said brake bands Awsleeve- 68 rotatabl'e upon: the shaft 46 extends through the lugs 69 and 70of thebrake band' 38. and this sleeve is providedwith a thrust collar T 1 and screw 'nut' 72.- The sleeve 68 is connected with the shaft 47 by a spur gear 78 meshing with the gear 63. Manipulation of the hand wheel 61 will cause rotation of the control shaft 47' and sleeve 68 thereby-- controlling the rotation of the-winding drum 13 in the manner above described."

By the arrangement of parts above describedathe feed drums 12 and 13 may bee-on trolled'to wind their respective ropes either simultaneouslyor separately at a relatively fast :speedor at a: relatively low speed, or

the rotation of said drums inthe unwinding direct-ion may be frictionally resisted.

It will be noted that the peripl'ieralflange of the planet carrier '32 seats down over the upper-marginofring Preferably." the upper portion of ring 35 is of reduced-diam eter so that the aouter flange" of'whee'l' 32 may bergiven substantially-the 'same diameter as the lower portion'ofthe ringr It'fwill be obvious: that thisi arrangement' makes for greater compactness and" thus enables the I height. of the machine to be 'kept down;

Inthetoperation of the machine-either of the ropes maybeused to move the machine at relativelynhlgh speed over the =nnne floo'r to position the "machine relative to i thema terial which is to be cut. Both ropes may be drawn out from their respective drums and attached to suitable anchor acks 74 positioned adjacent the coal face, and the hand wheels 59 and 61' manipulated to Wind both ropes at relatively low speed to form the sumping or entering cut as shown'in Fig. 7.

The machine may be fed from right to left by passing the feed rope 15 around the guide pulley 7 5 which is fixed to the forward end of the machine frame and thence to an anchor jack T6 at the left hand rib. The rope 14 may be drawn out from its drum and attached to an anchor jack 7'? at the right hand rib. hen thus arranged the hand wheel 61 may be manipulated to Wind the rope 15 at a relatively low or cutting speed, and the hand wheel 59 manipulated to permit the unwinding of the rope 14 against frictional resistance, thereby maintaining the desired angular relation of the kerf cutter 2 to the face of the coal as the machine travels across said face as shown in Fig. 8.

The machine may be fed from left to right by passing the rope 14 around the guide pulley T8, and thence to an anchor jack 79 at the right hand rib. The rope 15 will then be drawn out from its winding drum and attached to an anchor jack 80 at the left hand rib. lVhen thus arranged the hand wheel 59 may be manipulated to wind therope 14: at a relatively low or cutting speed, and the hand wheel (51 manipulated to permit the unwinding of the rope 15 against frictional resistance therebymaintaining the desired angular relation of the kerf cutter 2 to the coal face as the machine travels across the face, as shown in 9.

hat I claim is: r

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, a planetary gearing system arranged to connect said drum with a source of rotative power. said planetary system including two cylindrical brake elements and rake bands cooperating therewith, terminal lugs at both ends of said brake hands, a shaft extending through apertures in the terminal lugs of each brake band, nuts screw threaded to said shafts adapted to engage said terminal lugs, and gears connecting said shafts for retation in opposite directions, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, planetary gearing arranged to connect said drum with a source of rotative power, said planetary system including two cylindrical brake elements and brake brands cooperating therewith, terminal lugs at both ends of each brake band, a shaft extending through apertures in the terminal lug of each brake band, nuts screw threaded to said shafts adapted to engage said terminal lugs, and means to simultaneously rotate said shafts in opposite directions, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, a planetary gearing system arranged to connect said drum with a source of rotative power, said planetary system including two cylindrical brake elements and brake bands cooperating therewith, terminal lugs at both ends of each brake band, a shaft extending through apertures in the terminal lugs of each brake band, a nut screw threaded to each of said shafts adapted to engage said terminal lug, gears connecting said shafts for rotation in opposite directions, and means to rotate said shafts, as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, a system of power transmission devices arranged to connect said drum with a source of rotative power, said system including two cylindrical brake elements and brake bands cooperating therewith, each of said brake bands terminating in outwardly projecting lugs, a shaft extending through apertures in bothlugs of each brake band, a shoulder on each shaft engaging one of said lugs, a nut screw threaded to each shaft adapted to engage the other lug of each brake band, and gears connecting saidshaft to cause their rotation in opposite directions, as and for the purpose set forth. w

5, In a machine of the class described", the combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, a planetary gearing system'arranged to connect said drum with a source of rotative power, said planetary system including two cylindrical brake elements and brake bands cooperating therewith, ter

minal lug on said brake bands, two shafts each extending throughapertures in the terminal lugs of one of said brake bands, a collar on each shaft engaging one of said terminal lugs, a nut screw threaded to each shaft and each adapted to engage the opposite ter-. minal lug, compression springs surrounding said shaft engaging said terminal lug and suitable abutments of the machine frame tending to expand said brake bands, gears connecting said shafts "for rotation in opposite directions, and means to cause the rotation of said shafts in either direction to alternately compress one of said brake bands and permit the expansion of the other.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, a plural speed transmission system arranged to connect said drum with a' source of rotative power, control means for said transmission system including a pair of brake drums, a split brake band arranged to cooperate with each said brake drums, and means to alternately'tighten one of said bands and release the other, said means comprising a screw and nut device connecting the free ends of each of said bands, and connections between said devices whereby actuation'of one vof them-in a tightening direction causes simultaneous actuation of the other in'a releasing direction.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, aplural speed transmission system arranged to connect said drum with a source of rotative power, control means for said transmission system including a pair of brake drums, a split brake band arranged to cooperate with each of said brake drums, andmeans to alternately tighten one of saidbands and releasethe other, said means comprising screw and nut elements connecting the free ends of each of said bands, and a gear connection between said screw elements whereby actuation of one of them in a tightening direction causes simultaneous actuation of the-other in a -re leasing direction,

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a winding drum mounted thereon, a planetary gearing system arranged to connect said drum with a source of rotating power, control means for said transmission system including a pair of superposed coaxial brake drums, a split brake band arranged to cooperate with each of said brake drums, and means to alternatively tighten one of said bands and release the other," said means comprising screw and nut elements connecting the free ends of each band, said screw elements being horizontally disposed and in'parallel relation, and con- DQOtlOI'lSbQtWQGH said screw elements whereby actuationof one of them in a tightening direction effects simultaneousactuation of the I other in a releasing direction;

9. In a machine of the class described, a vertical shaft, a drumrotatable about said shaft, means for driving the shaft, .and planetary gearing for-driving .the drum from the shaft, said geaningincluding-a ring-concentric with the 'drum and rotatable relativethereto, and a further rotary element concentric withsaid drum and having .a cir cular-peripheral flange freely surrounding roundingthe reduced portionof said ring.v

11. In 'a machine vof the class described, a

verticalshaft, a drum rotatable about said ing provided on its upper side with anup-' standing peripheral ring having gear teeth formed on its inner'surfa'ce, a-second ring surrounding the first and rotatable relative thereto, the upper margin of said second ring projecting above the first and beingprovided on its inner surface with gear teeth, planet gears engaging the teeth =of both of said rings, a drive gear on the shaft meshing with the planet gears, a-carrier forthe planetgears rotatable about the shaft and having I a circular peripheral flange freely surrounding the upper margin of said sec ond ring, and friction means arranged to cooperate with the outer faces of said second ring and said flange.

13. In a machine of the class described, a base plate, a vertical shaft supported on said plate, a drum rotatable about said shaft im mediately above said plate, said drum being provided on its upper side with an upstand ing peripheralring having gear teeth formed on its inner surface, a second ring surrounding the first and rotatable relative thereto, said second ring having a. portion of reduced diameter extending above the-first ring and provided with gear teeth on its inner surface, planet gears engaging the teeth of both of said rings, a drive gear on the shaft :and meshing with the planet gears, a carrier for the planet gears rotatable aboutthe shaft and having a circular peripheral flange freely surrounding the reduced portion of said second ring, and friction means arranged to cooperate with the outer'faces of said second ring and said flange.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand;

LEIVIS EDIVIN MITCHELL.

Jan 

